Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer was slapped with a hefty Rs 24 lakh fine for a slow over rate during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 win over Mumbai Indians. Despite leading from the front with a stunning 87* off 41 balls to chase down 204, the BCCI penalised Iyer and his team under the IPL Code of Conduct. Other Punjab players were fined Rs 6 lakh or 25% of their match fee. Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya faced a Rs 30 lakh fine for the same offence. Punjab now heads to the final against RCB on June 3. (PC: BCCI)

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have arrived in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks, following a night of intense aerial assaults by both sides. Hours earlier, Kyiv launched 117 drones targeting military bases deep inside Russia, reportedly destroying at least 13 warplanes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the strike as “an absolutely brilliant result.” The Ukrainian attack came in retaliation to Russia’s largest aerial offensive on Ukraine the night before. Despite a previous round of talks in Istanbul last month yielding little progress beyond a prisoner exchange, hopes remain that diplomacy may ease tensions amid the ongoing war. (PC: BBC)

Six people were injured in Boulder, Colorado, after Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower in a targeted terror attack on a pro-Israel demonstration. The incendiary devices, made from bottles filled with flammable liquid and a lit wick, have roots in World War II. Named after Soviet minister Vyacheslav Molotov, the “cocktails” were coined sarcastically by Finns during the Winter War to fight Soviet tanks. The attack reignited concerns over terrorism and the use of improvised weapons in political violence. The FBI is investigating the assault, which Soliman reportedly carried out while shouting “Free Palestine.”

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in two to three phases before the current Assembly's term ends on November 22. The Election Commission is planning the schedule around major festivals like Diwali and Chhath. Polling reforms include reducing voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200, more booths in dense areas, and door-to-door verification by BLOs. The EC will deploy the new ECINET dashboard, replacing 40 older tools. Voter rolls will link to death records to avoid fraud, and a special AI cell will monitor synthetic content. CEC Gyanesh Kumar will visit Bihar later this month. (PC: India Today)

Gnanasekaran, the accused in the December 2024 Anna University sexual assault case, has been sentenced to 30 years of life imprisonment by the Madras High Court. He was also fined ₹90,000 after being found guilty on all 11 charges by the Chennai Mahila Court. The case, which involved the assault of a 19-year-old student, sparked political protests and public outrage, with opposition parties accusing the DMK government of mishandling the case. Despite allegations of the accused’s links to senior DMK leaders, the court delivered a strong verdict. AIADMK welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory for justice and student voices. (PC: News18)

In a bizarre new conspiracy theory, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that former President Joe Biden was "executed in 2020" and replaced with a robotic clone. The post, which Trump reshared from a fringe account, alleges Democrats are unaware of the supposed switch. The claim follows Biden’s recent disclosure of aggressive prostate cancer. The White House has not responded. Trump’s history of promoting baseless theories continues—ranging from genocide claims in South Africa to alleging the FBI tried to assassinate him. Analysts warn the repeated spread of misinformation may further polarize political discourse ahead of the 2026 midterms. (PC: NDTV)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party delegation abroad, strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. The incident, involving Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, injured six elderly victims near a courthouse during a pro-Israel event. The attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” and has been charged in what the FBI calls a targeted, ideologically driven terror attack. Tharoor echoed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s sentiments, stating that “terror has no place in our countries.” The Indian delegation, currently in Brazil, is set to visit the U.S. next. Investigations are ongoing, with FBI treating the case as terrorism. (PC: PTI)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine launched a “brilliant operation” deep inside Russian territory, using 117 drones in a strike that destroyed over 40 aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers. The attack, planned over 18 months, targeted airbases across three time zones and came just a day before peace talks in Istanbul. Zelenskyy stressed the need for coordinated pressure—military, diplomatic, and economic—on Russia. The strike, reportedly coordinated near Russia’s FSB offices, has heightened tensions as the two nations prepare to discuss ending Europe’s largest war since WWII. Moscow has yet to provide its promised peace proposal for the talks. (PC: Reuters)

In a dramatic showdown at Norway Chess 2025, 18-year-old World Champion D Gukesh staged a stunning comeback to defeat World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in classical format for the first time. Trailing for most of the game, Gukesh capitalized on a rare blunder by Carlsen in the endgame, sealing victory in 62 moves over four hours. Visibly frustrated, Carlsen slammed the table, knocking over pieces, before congratulating Gukesh and leaving the venue. The victory propels Gukesh to third place in the standings, just one point behind Carlsen and Caruana, and marks one of the tournament's most talked-about moments

A mass stabbing at the Union Gospel Mission men's shelter in Salem, Oregon, USA, left at least 11 people injured on Sunday evening. The incident took place at the shelter on the 700 block of Commercial Street Northeast. According to the Salem Police Department, all victims were transported to Salem Health with varying degrees of injuries. The male suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently in custody. Authorities have not released further details as the investigation is ongoing. The motive for the attack remains unclear. Officials are urging the public to avoid the area while detectives gather evidence. (PC: HT)